Garment bag hanger frame



May 4, 1954 M. SCHULMAN 2,677,584

GARMENT BAG FIANGER FRAME Filed Dec. 6, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l' Bnventor Michael Saba/man Gttorneg y 4, 1954 M. SCHULMAN GARMENT BAG HANGER FRAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 6, 1950 Fig. 12.

3nventor M/cba e/ Sc/vu/m an (Ittorneg Patented May 4, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE G RME T BAG HANGER FRAME Michael Sehulman, Philadelphia, Pa. Application December 6, 1950 Serial No. 199,402

12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to garment bags and,

more particularly, relates to hanger frames for per end of the bag material and intended to be I hooked over a horizontal rod from which the bag may be suspended, have been previously available. These bags are usually supported by a hanger frame and Open along one side to re- .ceive a plurality of garments draped on ordinary coat hangers which may be suspended from an internal transverse garment rack forming part of the frame.

With garment bags of this type, it is with the greatest of inconvenience that garments are removed from or replaced in the bag. Delicate feminine garments, for which these bags are larg ly used, are particularly susceptible to damage during struggles to install on a centrally dispos d a m nt r k su h garments h le ro ing at arms length in the dark recesses of a swaying bag, more especially when other garments are already in place.

It is one of the principal objects .of my invention to provide a garment bag and hanger frame therefor in which this objectionable feature is obviat d- Another object of my invention is to provide a garment bag and hanger frame arran ed 91 stable suspension, in which a transversegarment rack is slidably movable between a median and a forward position in the bag.

A further object of this invention is to produce a arment bag with a closable forward o enns an a ger frame having a arment rack slidable between a median and aforward position in the has ,still another object of the invention is to produce an inexpensive eflicient durable garment bag hanger frame which is removable from the bag and which provides optimum accessibility to the garments stored therein.

With these and other objects in View which will become apparent from the ensuing description and claims, the following sets forth the details of construction and combination of parts of a specific embodiment of my invention, which I illustrate as an example, and which will best be understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective View of a garment bag and hanger frame constru cted in accordance with my inv nton, s n he ag closure flap in open position and the garment rack in full icrwardposition.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the hanger frame of my invention with the garment racl; in an intermediate position,

3 is a side el v ti na w o t device or Fig. 2 it a i zi od i pla showin the folded position of the supporting hooks in broken lines. Y

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged fragmentary front and side elevational views respectively, partly in section, of the ball slide bearing of the device of Fig. 2.

.6 is a f a mentar side .ele ional v w, part y in sec i n of the arment ba 01' my invention showing alternate method or eliminate in forward angular tilting.

ig. i a p rsp ct ve vi w or a mod ficat on of the hanger frame of my invention.

Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged fragmentary views, pa tly in sec i n o er bea i m fications of the side sliders of the device of Fi 7.

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of another modification of the hanger frame of my invention.

Figs. 11 and 12 are enlarged fragmentary front and side elevational views respectively, partly section, of the ball slide hearing of the device 9! Fig, 10.

Referring now to the draw n I have shown Fig. 1 a rectangular garment bag I5 madsofslultable fabric or flexible plastic material. Within the upper endof the bag I5 is a supp rting hanger frame It havin two hooks 11 disposed in spaced relation along the transverse median from front to rear of the bag for supportin the bag on a closet rod 19. The hooks pass throu h reinforced holes 18 the top of the bag 15 and a stabilizing rod 2.9 passes upwardly through a similar hole 2| at the middle of the rearward edge of the bag.

Th a 1. s ro ide w h a eneral y rec: tan-gular forward opening 22 thefull width of the bag front and extending vertically fromjust below the ba top to a, suitable substantial dis.- a e d wnwa dly t er T sme lin .22 i clo bie with an appropriately d ni ,ioned closure flap 23, shown in open position in Fig. i, flexibly or hingedly permanently attached to one s de .of the pen ng 22 and n ma ly cl ed by a peri h l c nv nt ona slide a e e 2.

T frame 16 i ash o d larg ly of w re and comprises two track members 2 o relativi y. heavy and stiff wire, disposed in a horizontal plane and parallelingeachotherfor the full long} tudinal depth from front to rear of the bag [5,- The forward ends of the two track memb ersfi re e p ided wit a short vert ca p ard e ension 215, the ends of which a e welded to the front portion of a rectangular bag support element 21 of lighter gage wire conforming to the contour of the upper end of the bag l5. The rear ends of the two track members 25 are provided with extensions 28 which are bent upwardly for a distance relatively shorter than the length of the forward extensions 26, then are bent toward each other to meet at a central point where they are integrally united (welded together or formed from a single wire) and Welded to the rear of a hollow cylindrical sleeve 39 having its axis vertically disposed.

The frame I is bilaterally symmetrical, with the track members 25 spaced from the sides of the bag. Slightly to the rear of the median line of the bag depth, there is welded to each track member 25 a brace member 3| directed first vertically upwardly, then bent forwardly and upwardly toward the median, and finally bent horizontally outward and continuing until terminated at conjunction with the adjacent side portion of the bag support element 21, and being welded thereto. Clamped around the inward horizontal part of each of the members 3| for pivotal connection therewith is a sleeve 32 which provides a swivel mounting for the lower end of the hook I? so that it is free to turn on its shank as an axis.

A transverse rack 33, of wire provided with a series of depressions or seats for carrying coat or garment hangers, depends from the track members 25 and is arranged for sliding translation relative thereto between the forward ends 26 and the brace members 3|. Adjacent the ends of the rack 33 and suitably spaced thereon for engagement with the respective track members 25, are two slide bearings 34, each comprising a sheet metal shell 35 and a ball 36, illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. The shell 35 is of generally inverted U shape with the ends brought together into contact for a substantial distance. The juxtaposed ends of the shell 35 are drilled transversely to receive the rack 33 and are welded thereto. The track member 25 passes through the opening in the shell 35 and is a loose fit therein. The ball 36 is approximately of the same diameter as the cylindrical track member 25 and is mounted over it in the shell opening, being retained therein by the fingers 31 struck down from the slitted ends of the horizontal top portion of the shell 35. To assure the rack 33 being at all times perpendicular to the track members 25, each bearing 34 is provided with a guide rod 38, welded thereto above the rack 33, and extending rearwardly approximately half the bag depth and terminating in a transverse eye 46 encircling the track member 25 in the region between the brace member 3| and the extension 28.

' Associated with each track member 25, a tie member 4| of light gage wire is welded to the forward extension 25 at a point above the level of the top of the bearing 34, extends rearwardly and upwardly to the horizontal portion of the brace member 3| and is welded to the inward end thereof, then continues rearwardly and downwardly to the rearward extension 28 and is welded to the vertical portion thereof at approximately the same level as at the forward end.

The bore of the sleeve 30 is a sliding fit on the stabilizing rod 2!! which passes therethrough and is limited in downward travel by a locking sleeve 42 which engages the rod 20 with a sliding fit and is adjustably lockable thereto by a thumbscrew 43 transversely threaded into the sleeve 42.

The operation of this device is as follows: The bag i5, mounted on the frame I5, is hung in a closet provided with a rod l5 and the usual overlying shelf 45, with the hooks l1 engaging the rod i9, and the locking sleeve 42 adjusted on the stabilizing rod 20 so that the rod just contacts the lower surface of the shelf 45 when the bag is level or slanting slightly toward the rear. With the flap 23 open and the rack 33 in its forward most position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, hangers carrying dresses or other garments are hung in the depressions of the rack, as illustrated by the hanger 44.

The rack 33 is then pushed rearwardly to its limiting position at the median, and the flap 23 is closed and secured with the fastener 24. To remove the garments, the flap is opened and the rack pulled forward to the front of the bag as illustrated in Fig. 1. In this position, with the garments and coat hangers readily accessible, the bag is stable because the plurality of hooks l1 prevent transverse angular tilting of the frame due to unequalized loading, and the stabilizing rod 20 prevents downward tilting of the front of the bag. Downward bending forces on the front and rear ends of the track members 25 are resisted by the truss action of this assembly, tensing the tie members 4|, which though of light gage are quite strong in tension, and compressing the track members 25 which are of suitable columnar strength. The bag l5, which is light in weight, receives adequate support from the support element 21, even though this element is supported only at the front and sides by the extensions 23 and the brace members 3|, respectively.

In packaging the frame l6, required vertical space is minimized by removing the stabilizing rod 20, as in Fig. 2, and the hooks I! are folded downwardly as shown by the dotted lines of Fig. 3.

In the modified frame 45 of Fig. 7, a central main track member 41 is used, of sufficient 1ongitudinal strength to prevent bending when the rack 48 is weighted with garments and positioned at the front of the bag l5. The track member 41 is provided at its forward end with a vertical upward extension 50 welded to the middle of the front portion of the element 21. The rear end of the track 41 is welded to a vertical sleeve 5| provided with a thumbscrew 52 transversely threaded therein. The sleeve 5| is adapted to receive the stabilizing rod 20 whose vertical position is adjustably fixed by the thumbscrew 52. To provide increased rigidity of the frame, if desired, a short piece of wire 53 may be welded to the sleeve 5| and to the rear portion of the element 21. The sleeve 5| is so disposed that the rod 20 just clears the inside of the element 21.

A medial transverse tie member 54 is welded to the lateral sides of the element 21 and carries the two hangers or hooks |1 disposed generally as in the device of Fig. 2. Laterally outward of the hooks l1 and adjacent each of the lateral sides of the element 21, an auxiliary track member 55, paralleling the main track 41, has a front upward extension 56 welded to the front portion of the element 21 and is bent upwardly slightly to the rear of the median for a short distance and then forwardly and upwardly into conjunction with the tie member 54, and is welded thereto. Welded to the tie member 54, slightly inwardly of the respective hooks I1 and descending inwardly on either side into conjunction with the track 41 slightly rearwardly of the median,

5 are two tension elements 5:! which transmit the load on the track ll to the hooks H.

The rack 48 is slidably engaged with the track ll by means of a bearing 34, and the guide rod 58 welded thereto is similar to the guide rod 38 except that it is illustrated as provided with a. rearward slide bearing 34 instead of the eye ti) of the frame of Fig. 2.. The outer ends of the rack 43 are supported from the auxiliary tracks 55 by slide bearings 34 which may be smaller than but otherwise identical with the bearings 34 except for the omission .of a guide rod welded to the side.

In place of the bearing 34" the ends of the rack 48 may slidably engage the auxiliary track 55 with a grooved roller or sheave 69, as illustrated in Fig. 8, with the rack 43 having an upward extension d8 bent inwardly at its end to form the shaft on which the roller 60 is. rotatable. lateral sides of the element 21 may be replaced by a light generally L-shaped track 2'1, .as illustrated in Fig. 9, and the rack 48 provided with an upward extension 48" bent outwardly atits end to form a shaft rotatably engaging a roller 6] arranged to roll along the bottom of the L.

At the middle of the front portion or the element El there is welded an eye 62 to which may be attached a chain t3 (Fig. .6) whose other end is adiustably attached to a screw-hook es mounted on the front edge of the shelf 45. This constitutes an effective arrangement for preventing forward angle tilting of the bag and may be used alternatively in place of the stabilizing rod 29.

The operation of this modification is identical with that for the device of Fig. 2 except that a single guide rod is used to maintain the rack perpendicnlar to the tracks, and the vertical adjustment for the stabilizing rod 29 is integral with the sleeve 5|. A handle 49 is provided for convenience in sliding the rack 5'8 rearwardly or forwardly. i

In Fig. 10, I illustrate a simplified frame E8 having a strong central main track 61 extending the full depth of the bag. A secondary track 68 mounted below and parallel to the track 57 and spaced a short distance therefrom, extends from the front end to slightly rearwardly of the median. A vertical upward extension 50 of the forward end of the track 58 is welded to the middle of the front portion of the element 2'! and a vertical upward extension ll of the rearward end of the track 58 is welded to the track 51. The tie member 55., hooks l1, and tension elements 51 welded to the track {58 at the rearward end, are identical with the construction of the similarly numbered parts shown in Fig. 7. The forward end of the track 6? is welded to the extension ill and the rearward end is welded to a vertical sleeve 12 which in turn is welded to the central point of the rearward portion of the element 21.

The transverse rack 1'4 of this modification is slidably engaged with both the tracks G1 and 68 by means of the slide bearing l5 which is similar to the bearing 3:. except that the opening 16 and the shell 35 of the bearing are considerably vertically elongated to include the track 68 in the opening '58. The bearing 15 supports the rack it to which it is attached in a manner similar to the attachment of the rack 33 to the bearing 36. The bearing 15 is supported on the track Bl, the top of the shell being spaced from the track 6'! by the ball 35. The track 68 functions as a guide to keep the bearing 15 in vertical alignment and. consequently the rack Also, in place of the bearing 34, the v 6. H in a horizontal plane at all times. A guide rod: 17 is welded to the side of the bearing 15 and extends rearwardly for approximately half the depth of the bag to an eye 18 which slidably engages the rearward half of the track .61, keeping the rack 14 transversely aligned at all positions of its translatory movement. The ends. of the rack it are turned upwardly for a short dis.- tance high enough. to allow placement thereon of hangers such as the hanger M. Wire tension elements are welded respectively between each of the ends of the rack '14 and the top of the bearingl5 to prevent the rack 14 from sagging at the ends due to loading.

This modification functions similarly to the devices previously described. The sleeve 12 is adapted to receive the stabilizing rod 28 which could be locked in place by a thumbscrew 1.3 threadedtransversely into the sleeve. An eye, similar to the eye E2 or the modification shown in Fig. 7, could be attached to the frame 66 for use with the chain 63, as an alternative for the stabilizing rod 20.

It .is evident from the foregoing that the various means of slide. engagements illustrated may be largely interchanged, and sleeve or roller bearings may be used in place of the sliding eye or the ball engagements shown.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the use of only two hooks 11 as shown in the several modifications illustrated, or the two track members 25, but may use as many hooks and as many tracks supported substantially therefrom as necessity war-- rants, for example three or four hooks and tracks for very wide bags. Also the handle as may be applied to any of the racks, rather than only to the rack 48, as illustrated in Fig. '7.

Although the front opening 22 of the bag 55 is shown as rectangular and closed by a flap 23 hinged at the side, it is obvious that other type openings such as bottom-hinged or V-shaped openings may be used.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting, as other embodiments will be evident to those skilled in the art, as well as obvious modifications in construction and arrangement of parts, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with a non-collapsible suspension frame for a rectangular garment bag adapted to be disposed generally horizontally within and extend from front to rear of the upper part of the bag and having a plurality of suspension hooks attached to said frame disposed in spaced relation along the transverse median portion thereof, a longitudinal track extending the full length of said frame dependent from and fixed to the forward end and to the median portion of said frame, a transverse garment hanger rack slidably engageable with said track for translatory movement between said forward end and said median portion, means for maintaining said rack in a horizontal plane, and guide means fixed to said rack and slidably engageable with said track between said median portion and the rearward end of said track for maintaining said rack at right angles to said track.

2. In combination with a non-collapsible suspension frame for a rectangular garment bag adapted to be suspended from a horizontal rod vertically spaced below an overlying horizontal shelf and to fit within and extend from front to rear of the upper part of the bag and to maintain it in horizontally distended condition, a garment hanger rack slidably mounted on the frame below and parallel to said rod, means for guiding said rack for translatory movement in a horizontal plane between a rearward position vertically below said rod and a forward position at the front of said bag, means for preventing angular tilting of said rack out of horizontal position, means cooperatively associated with said shelf for preventing angular tilting of the plane of translatory movement of said rack about said rod as an axis, and means for maintaining said rack parallel to said rod.

3. In combination with a non-collapsible suspension frame for a rectangular garment bag adapted to be suspended by a plurality of hooks attached to said frame and disposed in spaced relation along the transverse median portion thereof from a horizontal rod vertically spaced below an overlying horizontal shelf and to fit within and extend from front to rear of the upper part of the bag and to maintain it in horizontally distended condition, means associated with said frame and engaging said shelf for preventing downward tilting of the forward end of said frame, a longitudinal track extending the full length of said frame dependent from and fixed to the forward end and to the median portion of said frame, a transverse garment hanger rack slidably mounted on said track for translatory movement between said forward end and said median portion, means for maintaining said rack in a horizontal plane, and guide means fixed to said rack and slidably engageable with said track between said median portion and the rearward end of said track for maintaining said rack at right angles to said track.

4. The invention set forth in claim 3 characterized in that said frame is provided with a flexible garment bag disposed thereon, said bag having a forward opening of substantially the full width of the bag front and extending vertically from just below the top of the bag to a substantial distance downwardly thereof, a closure flap for said opening, peripheral slide fastening means for securing and opening said flap, and the top of said bag having suitable holes for passage of said hooks and said first mentioned means.

5. The invention set forth in claim 1 characr terized in that said hooks are pivotally attached to said frame so that they may be turned downwardly into the body of said frame.

6. The invention set forth in claim 1 characterized in that the slidable engagement of said rack with said frame is by a ball slide bearing.

7. The invention set forth in claim 3 characterized in that said first mentioned means comprises a vertically disposed stabilizing rod adjustably and lockably secured to said frame centrally of the rearward portion thereof and extensible upwardly for contact with the lower surface of said shelf.

8. The invention set forth in claim 1 characterized in that said track is centrally disposed and constructed for transmission of vertical force to a hook on either side by an angularly disposed tension element having one end respectively connected to said frame adjacent said hook and the other end connected to said track adjacent said median portion.

9. In combination with a non-collapsible suspension frame for a rectangular garment bag adapted to fit within and extend from front to rear of the upper part of the bag and to maintain -it in horizontally distended condition and having a plurality of suspension hooks attached to said frame and disposed in spaced relation along the transverse median portion thereof, a plurality of parallel longitudinal tracks dependent from said frame, a transverse garment hanger rack slidably mounted on said tracks for translatory movement between the forward end of said frame and said median portion, and guide means for maintaining said rack at right angles to said tracks.

10. Ihe invention set forth in claim 1 characterized in that said track is centrally disposed, said frame is provided with an auxiliary track adjacent each side edge thereof paralleling said first-mentioned track and extending from said forward end to said median portion, said auxiliary tracks being suspended from and fixed to said frame, and the outer ends of said rack being supported by and in slidable engagement with said auxiliary tracks.

11. The invention set forth in claim 3 characterized in that said first-mentioned means comprises a chain having one end attached to said frame centrally of the forward portion thereof, and that said shelf is provided with means for detachably engaging one of the links of said chain.

12. The invention set forth in claim 11 characterized in that each end of each of said tracks is reinforced against downward bending by an angularly disposed tension element having one end respectively connected to said frame adjacent the respective associated hook and the other end connected to said track adjacent the end thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 995,805 Perry June 20, 1911 1,137,431 Sherman Apr. 27, 1915 1,259,005 Ethridge Mar. 12, 1918 1,375,883 Woolson Apr. 26, 1921 1,546,276 Woltz July 14, 1925 1,679,091 Luery July 31, 1928 1,799,190 Wilson Apr. 7, 1931 1,832,715 London Nov. 17, 1931 1,886,574 Normandy Nov. 8, 1932 1,907,552 Lichtig May 9, 1933 1,975,327 Loney Oct. 2, 1934 

